Ron Layton and Rene Layton, December 6, 2004

H.1\RDY MYERS
ATIOR.l\JEY GE}..TERAL
Ron and Rene Layton
P.O. Box 44
Joseph, OR 97846
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
1162 Court Street NE
Justice Building
Salem, Oregon 97301-4096
Telephone: (503) 378-4400
TIY: (503) 378-5938
December 6, 2004
Re: Petition for Public Records Disclosure Order:
Oregon Department of Education Records
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Layton:
PETER D. SHEPHERD
DEPUTY ATIDRJ\,'EY GE!\.'ERAL
This letter is the Attorney General's order on your petition for disclosure of records under
the Oregon Public Records Law, ORS 192.410 to 192.505. Your petition, which we received on
November 29, 2004, asks the Attorney General to order the Oregon Department of Education
(DOE) to produce for your review a copy the determination letter that DOE sent to the Joseph
School District (or a particular school within that district) and a copy of the "school's reply," if
one was received by DOE. Your petition explains that these records relate to a complaint that
you filed with DOE. For the reasons that follow, we respectfully deny your request.
The Public Records Law confers a right to inspect any public records of a public body in
Oregon, subject to certain exemptions and limitations. See ORS 192.410. The Public Records
Law provides that a person denied the right to inspect or receive a copy of a public record by a
state agency or official may petition the Attorney General to order the release of the public
record.1 ORS 192.450(1).
1 The Attorney General's authority under the Public Records Law does not extend to investigating or otherwise
reviewing ODE's handling of your complaint regarding alleged violations of standards by the Joseph School
District.
Ron and Rene Layton
December 6, 2004
Page 2
We spoke with Randy Harnisch, Executive Officer of the Oregon State Board of
Education, about your petition. Mr. Harnisch told us that ODE is sending the requested records
to you on this date. Because ODE is disclosing the records to you, we deny your petition as
moot.
Kevin Neely, Executive Assistant to the Attorney General, will respond in a separate
letter to your request that the Department of Justice begin an investigation of the Joseph School
District.
AGS14740
c: Randy Harnisch, ODE
Kevin Neely, DOJ
Sincerely,
fd;:D.
Deputy Attorney General

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H.1\RDY MYERS
ATIOR.l\JEY GE}..TERAL
Ron and Rene Layton
P.O. Box 44
Joseph, OR 97846
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
1162 Court Street NE
Justice Building
Salem, Oregon 97301-4096
Telephone: (503) 378-4400
TIY: (503) 378-5938
December 6, 2004
Re: Petition for Public Records Disclosure Order:
Oregon Department of Education Records
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Layton:
PETER D. SHEPHERD
DEPUTY ATIDRJ\,'EY GE!\.'ERAL
This letter is the Attorney General's order on your petition for disclosure of records under
the Oregon Public Records Law, ORS 192.410 to 192.505. Your petition, which we received on
November 29, 2004, asks the Attorney General to order the Oregon Department of Education
(DOE) to produce for your review a copy the determination letter that DOE sent to the Joseph
School District (or a particular school within that district) and a copy of the "school's reply," if
one was received by DOE. Your petition explains that these records relate to a complaint that
you filed with DOE. For the reasons that follow, we respectfully deny your request.
The Public Records Law confers a right to inspect any public records of a public body in
Oregon, subject to certain exemptions and limitations. See ORS 192.410. The Public Records
Law provides that a person denied the right to inspect or receive a copy of a public record by a
state agency or official may petition the Attorney General to order the release of the public
record.1 ORS 192.450(1).
1 The Attorney General's authority under the Public Records Law does not extend to investigating or otherwise
reviewing ODE's handling of your complaint regarding alleged violations of standards by the Joseph School
District.
Ron and Rene Layton
December 6, 2004
Page 2
We spoke with Randy Harnisch, Executive Officer of the Oregon State Board of
Education, about your petition. Mr. Harnisch told us that ODE is sending the requested records
to you on this date. Because ODE is disclosing the records to you, we deny your petition as
moot.
Kevin Neely, Executive Assistant to the Attorney General, will respond in a separate
letter to your request that the Department of Justice begin an investigation of the Joseph School
District.
AGS14740
c: Randy Harnisch, ODE
Kevin Neely, DOJ
Sincerely,
fd;:D.
Deputy Attorney General